Black History Month in the UK is a time to reflect on the past and present contributions of Black people to society. But too often, the stories of Black LGBTQI people are overlooked or treated as an afterthought. Our histories, our struggles, and our leadership deserve to be recognised as central to the broader narrative of Black history.
As a Black lesbian woman and refugee, I know how important it is to see ourselves reflected in the stories we tell this month. This Black History Month, I want to highlight three Black LGBTQI women whose work has had a lasting impact on our culture and activism.
1. Lady Phyll Opoku-Gyimah
Lady Phyll, born Phyllis Akua Opoku-Gyimah, is a human rights activist and a leading figure in the fight for racial, gender, and LGBTQI equality in the UK and globally. She is the founder and CEO of UK Black Pride. What began in 2005 as a small community trip to Southend-on-Sea has grown into Europe’s largest celebration of LGBTQI people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Middle Eastern, and Latin American descent, attracting tens of thousands of attendees each year.
We’re honoured to have Lady Phyll as our patron at Micro Rainbow, and she has been consistent in her support for LGBTQI asylum seekers and refugees. Lady Phyll’s leadership is rooted in intersectionality, recognising that race, gender, sexuality, and migration status all shape our experiences.
Lady Phyll has worked across trade unions, global human rights organisations, and grassroots movements. She’s fearless and principled, even refusing an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List in 2016, saying that she could not accept the award so long as “LGBTQI people are still being persecuted, tortured and even killed” across the world by laws put in place by the British Empire.
2. Aderonke Apata
Aderonke Apata is an absolute icon, and her journey is one of extraordinary resilience. After fleeing Nigeria due to persecution for her sexuality, she spent over a decade fighting for the right to remain in the UK. Her case drew national attention, especially when she was nearly deported, only for her flight to be cancelled at the last moment.
During this time, she founded African Rainbow Family, a charity that supports LGBTQI asylum seekers and refugees. Motivated by her own experience, she studied law and, since 2022, has been a qualified barrister specialising in immigration and human rights.
Aderonke’s work is a lifeline for many LGBTQI people navigating the asylum system. She understands the trauma and isolation that come with being both queer and displaced, and she uses her legal expertise to fight for justice.
3. Bandy Kiki
Born in Cameroon, Bandy Kiki (Emily Kinaka Banadzem) is a blogger, entrepreneur, and outspoken LGBTQI activist. She founded Kinnaka’s Blog, one of Cameroon’s most popular English-language platforms, and has used her voice to challenge homophobia and celebrate queer stories.
Now based in the UK, Bandy is pursuing a PhD and continues her advocacy through organisations like Rainbow Equality Hub.
This year, I had the honour of attending her wedding to her Nigerian partner, which was a beautiful African ceremony. Bandy’s work is a reminder that we, as Black lesbian women, can be proud of who we are and where we come from, even when our cultures try to exclude us.
